The boys tennis team hosted a tennis tournament on Saturday and the Saints won three matches against Columbia Heights, Stewartville and SW Christian.

The matches were competitive as the Saints beat SW Christian and Columbia Heights by team scores of 4-3. The Saints had an easier time of it against Stewartville winning 6-1.

It started out a little wobbly against SWC as the Saints lost the one, two and three singles matches in straight sets.

Connor Olson fell at one singles 4-6, 3-6; John Foss lost at number two singles 4-6, 2-6 and Brock Mueller lost 1-6, 2-6.

A pivotal match was four singles as Kilian Wehde won in three sets. One doubles was another key match for the Saints as Will Runge and Aldair Trujillo won in three sets. The number two doubles of Connor Engel and Cole Skow and the three doubles of Michael Hedlund and Erik Heitz won in straight sets.

Against Columbia Heights the Saints lost at one and three singles and at two doubles. SJA’s wins at two and four singles and one and three doubles provided the victory margin.

Olson and Wehde lost at one and three singles respectively. Wehde lost in three sets, while Olson fell in straight sets.

Foss at two singles and Sandin Skow at four won in straight sets for SJA.

Runge and Trujillo won at number one doubles in three sets, Engel and Cole Skow lost at two doubles in three sets, with the final set going to Columbia Heights by a 14-12 score.

Hedlund and Heitz secured the team win a 6-4, 7-5 win at number three doubles.

Against Stewartville the Saints had an easier time of it. Connor Olson had the only loss for SJA with a three set loss at one singles.

At two singles Foss won 6-4, 6-3; Mueller won at three singles in threes sets and Sandin Skow won in straight sets at four singles by a 6-1, 6-2 score.

Runge and Trujillo, who as a doulbes team wear the brightest shoes on the court, won at one doubles in three sets.

Engel and Cole Skow at two and Heitz and Hedlund at three doubles won in straight sets.

Summing up the tournament Saints Head Coach Les Zellmann said, “It was quality play on a high quality weather day. Our number one and number two singles players - Connor Olson and John Foss are establishing themselves as very solid singles players. We can count on them to compete well against top players of other teams.

Page 2 of 2 - “Our doubles teams performed well - good serving overall, good decision making with shots, and pretty solid net play.

“We are also showing some good team depth. Brock Mueller, Sandin Skow and Kilian Wehde played at #3 and 4 singles and provide our team with increasing versatility. We also know Colin Hoppe and Adrian Torres available to step into the varsity lineup if needed.”

Fairmont

On Monday the Saints hit the road and played a match against the Fairmont Cardinals. The Saints swept the Cardinals 7-0. Connor Olson won in three sets at number one singles. John Foss at two and Kilian Wehde at three singles won in straight sets. Sandin Skow at number four singles won in three sets.

The Saints three doubles teams of Runge and Trujillo at one; Engel and Cole Skow at two and Heitz and Hedlund at three doubles won in straight sets.

Waseca

The sixth ranked in the state Waseca Bluejays paid the Saints a visit on Tuesday. It was an opportunity for the Saints to measure where they stand against top flight competition and the SJA boys acquitted themselves very well losing the team score 4-3.

The Saints won at two singles and at two and three doubles.

In singles John Foss won in three sets 7-6, 6-7, 6-3. Eighth grader Sandin Skow lost in three sets at four singles 6-4, 6-7, 4-6.

Connor Olson and Kilian Wehde at one and three singles respectively, lost in straight sets.

In doubles the one doubles team of Runge and Trujillo lost in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. At two Engel and Cole Skow won 6-2, 6-2 and Heitz and Hedlund won 6-3, 6-0.

Coach Zellmann said, “Great match against the 6th ranked team.

“Our doubles play continues to get stronger with each match. Our singles are very competitive. We are seeing improvements daily.” I would add when there is not snow on the tennis courts!

Against Waseca, the Saints started three underclassmen in the four singles matches and the top two doubles teams were underclassmen, so the future is looking good not only for the balance of this year, but for years to come.